Michael Alisa - Questionable for the bowl game?

@Jdrew is reporting Alisa questionable for the bowl game with a sprained ankle.. I think we miss him dearly if true.... JJ and BK will need to step up!!

Other than that one big breakout game he had, he has shown flashes, but overall does not bring much, if any, more than JJ and Kariya.



Given Tulsa's stingy run defense, BYU better come prepared to throw it a lot to open up the run.



Obviously Hoff and Apo need to grab the brass ring, but JJ and JD and Kariya catch very well coming out of the backfield and slot. We are thin at Tight End. Friel needs to step up.



Even with Alisa, unless BYU is throwing it well, the run is not going to be there for us.



Nelson will not run as well Vs Tulsa as he did against most opponents either. Nelson will need to do what he did in Honolulu - but against a stronger defense. This defense will be better than UH - maybe close to TCU.



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Unfortunately, I think we lose this game, regardless of Alisa playing. Just a gut feel that this bowl game will be a disappointment.



:sick:

TUlsa's defense as good as TCU's? I may have to look up those stats later when I have time. Maybe you are right. I have no actual clue. I get that they might be better than Hawaii's, but would need to comp stats on that as well.

Yes, hopefully BK and JJ put it all on the line for their last game. But it seems that this game will be won or lost--as many are, in the trenches. I was worried to hear our D being flat and not executing in practices. I hope KVN is right and that they will be ready.

dmcougar wrote:
TUlsa's defense as good as TCU's? I may have to look up those stats later when I have time. Maybe you are right. I have no actual clue. I get that they might be better than Hawaii's, but would need to comp stats on that as well.

Yes, hopefully BK and JJ put it all on the line for their last game. But it seems that this game will be won or lost--as many are, in the trenches. I was worried to hear our D being flat and not executing in practices. I hope KVN is right and that they will be ready.

Tulsa D is tough to benchmark - if someone with better tools than my travel kit provides has time and access to details, you would probably want to segregate out the games Vs Okie, Okie State, Boise State, and Houston as one data set - maybe even lump SMU in there since SMU beat TCU. Maybe UCF since they played them equal to us. That defense won't look so awesome. Then take the other games. That defense will look very good. We will outperform any of the other teams and even SMU and UCF averages Vs Tulsa. Significantly. But we may slightly underperform relative to the 4 ranked teams or be very close plus or minus Vs that defense.



Their offense was pretty good even Vs most of the ranked teams, but Okie State and BSU and Houston were ranked in spite of defensive vulnerabilities. Our defense ought to stack up with the overall average performances Vs that offense favorably and probably equal the defensive performance of the ranked opponents.



In other words, Riley needs to keep us in this game and the defense needs to rise up and win it.



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northerncougar wrote:
Unfortunately, I think we lose this game, regardless of Alisa playing. Just a gut feel that this bowl game will be a disappointment.



:sick:

Northerncougar feeling pessimistic!? I'm absolutely shocked... :sulk:

Cougarbib2 wrote:

TUlsa's defense as good as TCU's? I may have to look up those stats later when I have time. Maybe you are right. I have no actual clue. I get that they might be better than Hawaii's, but would need to comp stats on that as well.

Yes, hopefully BK and JJ put it all on the line for their last game. But it seems that this game will be won or lost--as many are, in the trenches. I was worried to hear our D being flat and not executing in practices. I hope KVN is right and that they will be ready.

Tulsa D is tough to benchmark - ....



In other words, Riley needs to keep us in this game and the defense needs to rise up and win it.



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I was actually thinking the very opposite. I can only hope that our D keeps us in the game because I'm afraid Riley will have to Rise up and win this much like he did vs the Ags.

Our RBs last four games.

Alisa:

38 carries, 212 yards, 1 TD, 5.6ypc.

1 catch, 22 yards, 1 TD



DiLuigi:

36 carries, 200 yards, 0 TD, 5.6 ypc

8 catches, 80 yards



Kariya:

20 carries, 101 yards, 5 TDs, 5.1 ypc

2 catches, 13 yards

SpiffCoug wrote:
Our RBs last four games.

Alisa:

38 carries, 212 yards, 1 TD, 5.6ypc.

1 catch, 22 yards, 1 TD



DiLuigi:

36 carries, 200 yards, 0 TD, 5.6 ypc

8 catches, 80 yards



Kariya:

20 carries, 101 yards, 5 TDs, 5.1 ypc

2 catches, 13 yards

Now throw Nelson in there...well, I guess he didn't really play/run much in the last 4 games

Since the OP mentioned a Jay Drew treat, I noticed he also tweeted that Matt Putnam is ineligible for the bowl due to grades again.

SpiffCoug wrote:
Since the OP mentioned a Jay Drew treat, I noticed he also tweeted that Matt Putnam is ineligible for the bowl due to grades again.

:bug: SHOCKED... I think that hurts depth wise on the D Line.. but Putnum hasn't been a model student...

po_pocoug wrote:

Since the OP mentioned a Jay Drew treat, I noticed he also tweeted that Matt Putnam is ineligible for the bowl due to grades again.

:bug: SHOCKED... I think that hurts depth wise on the D Line.. but Putnum hasn't been a model student...

It really is a big loss, Putnam is an excellent pass rusher.

SpiffCoug wrote:
Our RBs last four games.

Alisa:

38 carries, 212 yards, 1 TD, 5.6ypc.

1 catch, 22 yards, 1 TD



DiLuigi:

36 carries, 200 yards, 0 TD, 5.6 ypc

8 catches, 80 yards



Kariya:

20 carries, 101 yards, 5 TDs, 5.1 ypc

2 catches, 13 yards

While very helpful, isn't there a context of the teams we played? Tulsa seems to certainly be tougher than the last 4.

Schmoe wrote:

Unfortunately, I think we lose this game, regardless of Alisa playing. Just a gut feel that this bowl game will be a disappointment.



:sick:

Northerncougar feeling pessimistic!? I'm absolutely shocked... :sulk:

Schmoe reacting to Notherncougar's post? Equally shocking. :crazy:

More carries for David Foote could be a good thing if Alisa can't go.

C'mon guys, have courage, take heart. This bunch of cougars is not the same team that lost to Texas, Utah, and TCU. So Tulsa blows out weak teams; well, so do we. Feasting on cupcakes has helped us arrive. Our execution is vastly improved, and our WR's are hitting their strides, flying in their grooves like they were not doing earlier in the season. Sure, BYU does seem tested by its schedule lately, but remember that even the best BYU teams historically had to struggle to win in HI, even during a weak season for the home-field Warriors. This year, it was hardly a contest, which is a new trend for us in HI. We have a very good set of RB's, and I think David Foote can spell them off or throw a wrinkle that will launch them. Alisa may be able to play some anyway. Mathews and Friel can cover us at TE. I think BYU is the best unrated team, and Riley is the best un-noticed QB in the Nation. Barring the loss of any more linemen, Riley, Ross, and Cody are going to win this for us.

northerncougar wrote:

northerncougar wrote:
Unfortunately, I think we lose this game, regardless of Alisa playing. Just a gut feel that this bowl game will be a disappointment.



:sick:

Northerncougar feeling pessimistic!? I'm absolutely shocked... :sulk:

Schmoe reacting to Notherncougar's post? Equally shocking. :crazy:

Northenrcougar wrong in his pessimistic predictions again, yep, shocking.

We missed him more than I thought we would. I was a little disappointed Foote didn't get a few carries as many of our attempts weren't very effective. I thought he was worth a carry or two to see if he could do something.

Well Foote recovered a fumble and roughed the kicker.